Italian Folkers , ELVENKING, released their new album The Pagan Manifesto and The 666 interviewed their bassist JAKOB to talk about it. Check it out!!
- Hello Jakob what can you tell us about "The Pagan Manifesto"? What means this album for the band?
The Pagan Manifesto is actually our manifesto. It is where all our strongest music and lyrics features unite, looking forward, but influenced by our own roots. Every song is a small introspection of our original message seen by different points of view.
- What was your main inspiration when making it? Is there any concept behind The Pagan Manifesto?
It’s not really a concept album, but more a theme album, where the songs are somehow lyricwise connected. It all relates with Nature and the powers of the wild, seen as metaphors of purity and freedom. The lyrics of “The Pagan Manifesto” are about this; we talk about how the witches were persecuted, how brave and free-will characters were hated in history, about the communion with nature and the pagan deities and so on.
- What can you tell us about the lyrics and the music and how was the composition process?
The composition process lasted some months and was once again lead by Aydan and Damna, who laid down the main structures of the songs and wrote all the lyrics. Then the tunes were arranged by the whole
band.
- How is the people reaction to this new Elvenking album?
Until now, the reactions have been awesome, looks like this communion of modernism and roots has been appreciated by the critics and rewarded by the fans.
- What's your favorite song of the album and why?“Moonbeam Stone Circle” is extremely powerful live, but I also love how “The Solitaire” came out.
- How was the production of the album, what can you tell us about it, there was something different
compared with your previous albums?
As always, producing an Elvenking album is not a simple process: besides modern instruments, we have huge backing vocals, keyboards, orchestrations, acoustic and folk instruments. This time the album was recorded by Simone Mularoni at Domination Studios in the Republic of San Marino. I have no doubt saying this is our best produced album, ever.
- What its the main difference with your previous album “Era”? For me it has more folk on it
You are right! I always like to say that this album is...”more”. More metal, more folk stuff, more long and articulated material, more orchestrations, more choruses...more!
- What can you tell us about the artwork, what represents and who did it?
- How do you see the Metal scene today and what do you think Elvenking adds to it?
Despite the irreversible crisis of the discography market which crippled the sales, I feel the Metal scene is still alive and (more or less...) well: it depends on the country of course, but in Italy, our home country, we have a small but fierce fanbase who is really supportive, and a management who allows us to play live more than ever. But the situation is in constant evolution...
- Are you ready to go on tour? What will see the people in your new shows?
More than ready, always ready! I always thought that touring is what music is about. We’ll be playing a lot of the new stuff as well as the classics; you should expect new stage scenography, new costumes (and make up!) and a band whose goal is to play live as much as possible. Now it’s time for summer festivals, then we’ll look for some club touring at the end of the year...
- Could you share with us three albums that you’ve been spinning lately?
The last albums of Stratovarius, Edguy and Delain. Yes, I’m a power metal guy...
- Something you would like to say to the fans over the world?
Elvenking fans are the best of the best. Elvenlegions, I salute you!
Special thanks to AFM Records and Elvenking
.jpg)
.jpg)
